Among the Erza of the district of in the government of Nizegorod, as well as in the government of , a tradition is preserved that in the old days a brother could marry a sister. Not long ago there lived in the village of Dubensk a very pretty and hard-working girl. Her parents were reluctant to part with her and give her in marriage to a stranger. So they sent her to pay a long visit to her relatives at a distance, and on her return they received her as a complete stranger. From that day forth they obliged her to consider her brother as her husband. In answer to a direct question, a heathen Ceremis told Professor Smirnov that it was possible to marry a sister, though it was not done.¹

¹Abercromby, J.n/an/an/an/an/a, , 1: 182–183.